Dialogue With Others

The Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and
Interreligious Affairs sponsors a number of dialogues with other
Christian communions and members of other religions in the United States
or North America. This is In keeping with the commitment of the Catholic Church to Ecumenical
and Interreligious dialogue. In most cases these dialogues parallel those that
the Holy See sponsors at the universal level.

goal of dialogues

Catholic
dialogue participants are given the task to identify, in conversation
with the dialogue partners, areas that may be fruitfully studied. They
must then carry out an investigation of those topics in an endeavor to
overcome divisions or misunderstandings. The Committee for Ecumenical
and Interreligious Affairs hopes that the texts produced as a result of
these efforts will promote unity and understanding, and be useful to
pastors, theologians, ecumenical/interfaith staff, and others of good
will.

formation of Dialogues

Catholic members of each dialogue commission are named by the
Catholic co-chairman after consultation with the potential member's
bishop. Catholic participants are chosen on the basis of their
expertise in a given area depending on the work of the dialogue in
question.

The Authority of Dialogue Statements

Dialogue commissions often summarize their findings in reports or
agreed statements that are then made public. Statements are for the consideration of the
authorities and faithful of both of the dialogue partners.

Please note that reports and agreed statements have no authority beyond that of the
dialogue commission itself. They do not necessarily represent the
position of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or that of
the dialogue partner. Nevertheless, they represent the work of
competent theologians and deserve serious consideration.

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